Auckland Batsmen Punish Otago

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30640, 5 January 1965, Page 12

Auckland Batsmen Punish Otago

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. With all the early batsmen scoring heavily, Auckland reached 358 for six wickets on the first day of the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park today against Otago.

J. T. Sparling made the most impact for Auckland with 80, but the other leading batsmen, T. ,W. Jarvis, the opener, who scored 70, and R. W. Morgan (66), P. B. McGregor (51 not out) and S. G. Gedye (37), all played their part. Otago was unlucky that it lost the toss, for the pitch was good for batting. From 2 p.m. onward a light drizzle fell, not hard enough to send the players from the field (except for 12 minutes just before stumps), but doing enough to make the ball difficult for the bowlers. It was this rain and the bad light which stopped Sparling making an obvious declaration some time after 5 p.m. If he had declared his opening bowlers would have had to use a wet ball, provided that the Otago batsmen did not win an appeal against the light, which was not bad.

Sparling can now wait until tomorrow morning before making his declaration —and if it is still wet Auckland may well bat on.

Auckland was on the attack from the first ball, for a

quick single also produced three overthrows —and S. G. Gedye scored a two and a four In the same over. The 50 catne in even time, 60 in an hour and just when it seemed as if Auckland would race to a 100 J. C. Alabaster came into the attack. With his second ball he dismissed Gedye at 74 and helped to slow down the scoring. However, Jarvis and Sparling raced away again and by lunch Auckland was 141 for one. F. J. Cameron, after beating Jarvis several times, at last got the edge and L. Pearson had an easy catch. Gradually the scoring momentum picked up again with Morgan, the form Auckland batsman, scoring crisply. He had a life at 20 when Cameron dropped him at deep midwlcket from Alabaster's bowling with the total at 176 for

two. The 200 came in 229 minutes. The 100 partnership came and suddenly Sparling was out, checking a drive and giving P. H. Barton an easy return catch. After tea, the 250 came up In 271 minutes. Morgan was in fine form, chasing the runs and looking set to repeat the century he scored against Otago last season. However, overdriving at a wide bail from K. Ibadulla, he gave G. Turner a hard catch at cover. The score was 284 for four, and it soon became 304 for five when Ibadulla had H. T. Schuster caught behind. Auckland chased runs eagerly in the last hour, but lost 12 minutes because of rain, and also lost S. R. Speed's wicket when play resumed. McGregor, out of form in earlier matches, played some rousing strokes to reach 50.

Scoreboard:— AUCKLAND First Innings S. C. Gedye, c Pearson, b J. Alabaster .. ST T. W. Jarvis, c Pearson, b Cameron . 70 J. T. Sparling, c and b Barton .. SO R. W. Morgan, c Turner, b Ibadulla ..66 P. B. McGregor, not out .. SI H. T. Schuster, c Milburn, b Ibadulla 6 S. R. Speed, c Milburn, b Ibadulla 13 J. D. Behrent, not out .. 17 Extras (7 byes, 7 legbyes, 4 no-balls) .. 18 Total for 6 wkts. .. 358 Fall of wickets: One for 74, two for 142, three for 246. four for 284, five for 304, six for 334. Bowling

0. M. R. W. Cameron .. 35 10 96 £ Barton .. 14 0 54 1 Ibadulla .. 40 4 85 3 J. Alabaster . 20.2 3 59 1 C. Alabaster . 24 12 46 0